Foremost, I'm sorry for Melanie's situation which must be difficult, especially with a child involved. I know Stephen and Melanie were highly interwoven in business relationships, so I hope that both parties can reach an amicable agreement.

I do think that Melanie was being very smart financially as the state of California has a provision that if you're married for 10 years or longer, the lesser earning spouse possibly can be paid alimony for as long as he or she needs - provided the higher earning spouse can continue to pay and that the lesser earning spouse does not remarry - and the court can opt to retain jurisdiction to modify that spousal support. Filing in December is a little shy of six months before what would be her 10th anniversary.